PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wiley Abu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross has chosen Ice-T Lethal Weapon as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Abu
vs
Ross

182 cm
29
179 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

180 cm
27
180 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wiley Abu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricky Ross!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abu dodges the punch combination from Ross.
Ross misses with a low kick.
Ross tries to land a leg kick but Abu saw it coming and moves away.
Ross stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ross wants it to stay on the feet.
A low kick from Ross misses

and Abu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ross's guard.
Abu trying to control but Ross is working from the bottom.
Abu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Abu wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.
Abu won't allow Ross to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abu wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.

Abu is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ross is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ross has escaped and now he's on top!
Ross trying to stand up but can't free himself from Abu's guard.
Ross must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Abu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ross doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ross manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross stopping the sweep attempt from Abu.
Ross has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Abu is proving hard to escape from.

Abu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ross defends well.
Ross wants to stand but Abu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ross decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ross throws a head kick that misses

so Abu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Abu advances to half guard.

Abu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ross defends it well.
Abu is keen to just control but Ross is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Abu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ross can do anything to dispel that myth.
Abu lands with a punch from half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Abu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ross defends it well.
Abu is trying to control. Ross wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Abu is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Abu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wiley Abu dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ross throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ross buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Abu blocks the leg kick.
Ross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ross tries to clinch there but Abu circles away.
Abu avoids the head kick by Ross.
Abu avoids the head kick by Ross.
Ross looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ross looks for the body kick but Abu saw that one coming.
Abu tries for a takedown but Ross sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ricky Ross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Abu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ross throws a right and a left that Abu avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross looks to score with a jab to the body but Abu is just out of range.
Ross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ross lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abu circles away quickly and effectively.
Ross throws a head kick but Abu moves out of range.
Abu throws a right and a left that Ross avoids nicely.
Ross throws a series of punches but Abu avoids them all with ease.
Abu closes the distance and clinches up with Ross, looking for a takedown. Abu pushes Ross against the cage but Ross circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abu dives in and scores a takedown into Ross's guard.

Abu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ross is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Abu, into his guard.
Ross has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Abu is proving hard to escape from.
Wiley Abu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Abu pushes Ross off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ross buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Ross misses.
Ross tries to clinch but Abu moves out of range.
Ross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ross throws a leg kick but Abu checks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ross falls off balance throwing a combination
and Abu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ross showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ross throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Abu shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Abu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Abu is looking to take a break and control but Ross is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Abu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Abu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Abu stops Ross from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Abu moves into full mount! Ross won't be happy about that!
Abu sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Abu cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Abu pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ross wants to get back to his feet.
Abu postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ross looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abu wants to finish this one by submission but Ross is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Abu.
Abu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ross?
Abu controlling from mount.
Abu tries to control but Ross wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Abu working for a submission but Ross is keeping him at bay.

Abu is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Abu extends the arm and Ross is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wiley Abu!